Container unit for an automobile

ABSTRACT

A container unit in which a spring is detachable connected to the container and located between the container and a support surface in the automobile, and an anchorage connects the spring to the support surface in front of an angularly related abutment surface, whereby the spring exerts a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface. The container can be a tissue dispenser, a litter repository, or a combination thereof or any like item. Specifically, the spring is a coiled band spring having a coil portion received in a container pocket to provide the detachable connection with the container, and an outer spring end on which the anchorage is carried for attachment to the support surface underneath the container. When used as a tissue dispenser, the container has a rear side that is open for introducing a tissue box into the container when the container is detached, the open rear side overlapping the abutment surface when the container is attached to preclude unintentional removal of the tissue box from the container. The container is provided with projecting lips about the container pocket for locating and scooping the coil portion to the pocket and thereby facilitating attachment of the container. The same spring can be utilized to retain a plurality of containers in tandem by providing a suitable detachable connection between such containers.

Unite States Patent [191 Trammell, Jr.

154] CONTAINER UNIT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE Earl M. Trammell, Jr., c/o E.M.T.Enterprises, Box 435, St. Louis, Mo. 63166 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 404,027

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 224/42.45 R, 224/29 R [51] Int. Cl. B60r 7/04 [58] Field ofSearch 206/19.5 R, 57 R;

224/29 R, 424.42 R, 424.45 R, 42.42 R, 42.45 R; 248/D1G. 5, 34

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack,Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A container unit in which a spring is detachable connectedto the container and located between the con- 5} Mar. 11, 1975 tainerand a support surface in the automobile, and an anchorage connects thespring to the support surface in front of an angularly related abutmentsurface. whereby the spring exerts a pull on the container for holdingthe container against the abutment surface. The container can be atissue dispenser, a litter repository, or a combination thereof or anylike item. Specifically, the spring is a coiled band spring having acoil portion received in a container pocket to provide the detachableconnection with the container, and an outer spring end on which theanchorage is carried for attachment to the support surface underneaththe container. When used as a tissue dispenser, the container has a rearside that is open for introducing a tissue box into the container whenthe container is detached, the open rear side overlapping the abutmentsurface when the container is attached to preclude unintentional removalof the tissue box from the container. The container is provided withprojecting lips about the container pocket for locating and scooping thecoil portion to the pocket and thereby facilitating attachment of thecontainer. The same spring can be utilized to retain a plurality ofcontainers in tandem by providing a suitable detachable connectionbetween such containers.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARI 11% 3 870 210 SHEET 1 BF 2CONTAINER UNIT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to improvements in a container unit for anautomobile, and more particularly to an improved means for mounting acontainer.

such as a tissue dispenser, litter repository, a combination thereof,and the like to a convenient surface within the automobile. Thecontainer can hold tissues, litter, driving accessories or anyconvenience items.

Applicants prior US. Pat. No. 3,547,326 issued Dec. 15, I970, disclosesa particular mounting for a litter container against the front side ofan automobile seat. However, such mounting was difficult to obtainbecause the attachment was underneath the automobile seat, and thecomponent parts were not maintained automatically in a desired alignmentor location in front of the seat for ready attachment. There were amultiplicity of parts, and the mounting assembly was relatively long andoccupied considerable space. Moreover, the mounting means could moveunintentionally under the seat when the container was detached andrequire that the user subsequently find the unit under the seat,manipulate it back into position, and then diliberately arrange itrelative to the container incident to connection with the container.

' The heretofore conventional convenience containers have eitherincorporated a gravity fit such as the common placement of the containeracross the transmission hump of the front seat floor, or have employedattaching means for the container to the dashboard, kickpad, door of theautomobile, etc. Both the gravity and fixed positions mentioned serve tointerfere at times with the movement of the driver and passenger.

Those devices that could be hung from internal projections were usuallyconstructed inexpensively of paper so that they could be thrown awaywhen filled, and consequently were not readily available when a supplywas depleted. Moreover, such containers were not convenient because theyobstructed the use of the mounting projection, and were usually locatedin an area where they interfered with the drivers or passengersmovementsand actions.

Those containers that rested on the seat took up seating room anddiminished the occupants comfort. Those containers that rested on thefloor hindered the movement of the occupants legs and were not always inthe optimum position for usage, especially when utilized in conjunctionwith a movably mounted automobile front seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present container unit provides a yieldinginstallation for a container on the transmission hump or car floor, andprovides a pressure fit against a suitable abutment surface such as amovable front seat, stationary rear seat or against the rear or front ofa center console.

The mounting means does not require attachment under the automobileseat, cannot be unintentionally moved or lost under such seat, and doesnot require any deliberate positioning prior to or during subsequentreattachment of a container. The mounting means consists essentially ofa single part of relatively small dimension. It is automaticallymaintained in exact alignment and position for subsequent attachment toa suitable container.

The present convenience container unitincludes a resilient means that isdetachable connected to a container adapted to seat on a support surfacesuch as the floor, or the transmission hump of an automobile adjacent anabutment surface such as the front side of a movable front seat or astationary rear seat. An anchorage means connects the resilient means tothe support surface in front of the abutment means, whereby theresilient means exerts a pull on the container for holding the containeragainst theabutment surface.

The resilient means is a spring having one end lo- I cated in acompatible container pocket to provide the detachable connection withthe container.

More particularly, the resilient means is a coiled band spring, such asthat commonly known as a Negator spring, having a coil portion and anouter end, the spring coil portion being received in the containerpocket-to provide the detachable connection with the container. Theanchorage means is provided on the spring outer end. Preferable, thecoil portion of the band spring is disposed in a substantially uprightposition from the support surface, and the outer end of the band springlies substantially flat on the support surface.

In attaching the spring to the support surface, the anchorage means islocated and fixed so that it will lie underneath the container when thecontainer is attached to and urged by the spring against the automobileabutment surface.

When the container constitutes a tissue dispenser, the container isconstructed with an open rear side through which an object such as atissue box'may be introduced into the container. When such container isattached by the spring, the open rear side overlaps the abutment surfaceso as to preclude unintentional removal or displacement of the objectthrough the open rear side.

To facilitate the location and movement of the spring coil portion intothe container pocket, the container is provided with projecting lipsabout the pocket, the lips enabling the coil portion to be easilyscooped into the pocket.

The same spring can be utilized to attach a plurality of containers intandem by providing a suitable connection between such containers. Suchconnection includes a top-open socket in one container and a compatibleinterfitting tongue on another container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, showing the container unit mounted inan automobile;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a pair of interconnected containers;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the container utilized as a tissuedispenser;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the'container utilized as a litterrepository;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line5-5 of FIG. 2, showing the resilient mounting 'to the automobile supportsurface and the detachable connection between the containers; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line6-6 of FIG. 2, showing the latch between the component parts of thecontainer untilized for litter repository.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now by character of reference to the drawings, and first toFIG. 1, it will be understood that the container unit is adapted forassembly in an automobile. As usual, the automobile includes anautomobile seat having an abutment surface 11 at its front side. For thepurpose of this disclosure, the abutment surface 11 can also constitutethe front side of the stationary rear seat or the rear and front sidesof a center console. The automobile further includes a support surface12 represented by the transmission hump. Further, for the purpose ofdisclosure, the support surface can also be considered to be any area offloor. As'is usual, the support surface 12 is covered by a carpet 13.The abutment surface 11 is angularly related to the support surface 12.

The container unit includes a container 14 which in the embodiment shownconstitutes a tissue dispenser. Of course, it will be understood thatthe container 14 may be a litter repository or any other conveniencecontainer.

As is more clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the container 14 includesa top wall 15, opposed side walls 16, a bottom wall 17 and a front wall20. The rear side 21 of the container 14 is open to receive aconventional tissue box (not shown). The top wall is provided with anaperture 22 through which the tissues are dispensed. A cover guard 23 isformed integrally with the top wall 15 and extends partially over theaperture 22 to position the tissues for easy removal and to protect suchtissues from excessive exposure.

At each side of the container 14, the top wall 15 is provided withupstanding cars 24, the ears 24 extending substantially to the rear side21. These ears 24 provide an additional height for the rear side 21 ofthe container 14 to assure engagement with the abutment surface 11 ofthe automobile front seat 10 when the height of such seat 10 is adjustedupwardly and downwardly.

The bottom wall 17 of the container 14 is provided with a pair oflaterally spaced, longitudinally disposed rails 25 that extenddownwardly and seat on the supporting surface 12. When used on atransmission hump, these rails 25 serve to steady the container 14 andprovide sufficient elevation of the bottom wall 17 above the carpet 13to accommodate the curved configuration of the hump.

As is best seen in FIG. 5, the container 14 is provided with a pocket 26at the bottom of the front wall 20. The pocket 26 is open at the frontand rear, and is peripherally enclosed by opposed side walls 27 andopposed top and bottom walls 30. The front wall is provided withprojecting lips 31 extending peripherally about the pocket 26, thepurpose and function of the lips 31 being described later.

A resilient means referred to by 32 is used to attach the container 14to the support surface 12 and to urge the container 14 against theabutment surface 11. This resilient means 32 consists of a metal, coiledband spring 32 having a coil portion 33 and an outer end 34. This typeof coiled band spring 32 is represented by the sell-known Negatorspring.

An anchorage means consisting of a curved, substantially U-shaped pin 35is attached to the spring outer end 34, the pin 35 being adapted tofasten the spring 32 to the support surface 12 and particularly, to thecarpet 13. In locating and attaching the spring 32, the spring 32 isplaced on the support surface 12 in front of the abutment surface 11 andarranged longitudinally with the spring outer end extending in adirection toward the abutment surface 11. The anchor pin 35 is fastenedinto the carpet 13 to hold the spring 32 in place.

The container 14 is located in a position over the spring 32 and thepocket lips 31 are disposed about the coil portion 33 of the spring 32,the lips 31 scooping the spring coil portion 33 into the pocket 26. Thecontainer 14 is then urged in a direction to extend the coiled bandspring 32 so that the container rails 25 seat on the support surface 12and the rear side of the container 14 is located in front of andadjacent the abutment surface 11. The coil portion 33 of spring 32engages the container portion 36 adjacent the container pocket 26 sothat the spring loading tends to urge the container 14 and particularlythe rear side 21, against the abutment surface 11. It will be understoodthat when the container 14 is attached, the spring outer end 34 and theanchorage pin 35 are located underneath the container between thecontainer bottom wall 17 and the support surface 12.

When the coiled band spring 32 is fixed to the carpet 13, the coilportion 33 is disposed in a substantially upright position from thesupport surface 12, and the spring outer end 34 lies substantially flaton the carpet 13. In this position, the spring 32 is conditioned andmaintained at all times ready for insertion into the container pocket 26incident to the attachment of the container 14.

It will be understood, that when the container 14 is a tissue dispenser,a conventional tissue box is first located in the container 14 beforeattachment of the container 14 to the spring 32, by insertion into thecontainer 14 through the open rear side 21. When the container 14 isattached as previously described, the open rear side 21 overlaps theabutment surface 11 to preclude unintentional withdrawal or movement ofthe tissue box through the rear container opening.

With this container assembly, it will be understood that the singlespring 32 attaches the container 14 to the support surface 12 and alsosecurely holds the container 14 against the abutment surface 11. Inthose circumstances in which the abutment surface 11 is the front sideof a movable automobile seat, it will be also understood that the spring32 permits movement of the seat back and forth while maintaining thepressure engagement of the container 14 against the front seat side. ofcourse, the same assembly will be maintained under the spring loading ofthe spring 32 upon adjustment of the seat up and down.

In some assemblies, it is advantageous to utilize a plurality ofcontainers in tandem, such as a tissue dispenser and a litterrepository. When these container combinations are used, the resilientmeans utilized to connect one container 14 also serves to attach theother container.

For example, a container 37, constituting a litter repository, includesa lower portion 40 having a rear wall 41 with interconnecting, curvedside and front wall 42. Similar to the container 14, the container 37 isalso provided with a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally arrangedrails 43 on the bottom wall 44 adapted to seat on the support surface12. A slidably interfitting top container portion 45 is provided with atop opening 46 through which litter may be introduced into the container37. The top container portion 45 is secured to the lower containerportion 40 by a rotatable latch pin 47 secured to the lower containerportion 40 and selectively engageable with a shoulder 50 formed on thetop container portion 45.

The detachable connection between the containers l4 and 37 is providedby a top-open socket 51 formed on the front wall of container 14, and acompatible, interfitting tongue 52 formed on the rear wall 41 of thecontainer bottom portion 40. When the tongue 52 is located in the socket51, the containers 14 and 37 are attached in tandem. To disconnect thecontainer 37, the container 37 is simply lifted to remove the tongue 52from the container socket 51. The container 37 can be emptied and thensubsequently reattached by simply inserting the tongue 52 into thecontainer socket 51.

The front wall 41 of the container lower portion 40 is provided with arecess 53 to receive the projecting lips 31 about the container pocket26 in order to achieve a substantially flush engagement between thefront wall 20 of container 14 and the rear wall 41 of the container 37.

I claim as my invention 1. A convenience container unit for attachmentin an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surfacedisposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising:

a. a container adaptedsto seat on the support surface adjacent theabutment surface,

b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and locatedbetween the container and the support surface,

c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the supportsurface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient means exerting apull on the container for holding the container against the abutmentsurface, and

d. a second container seating on the support surface adjacent the firstsaid container, one of the containers being provided with a top-opensocket, and the other container being provided with a tongueinterfitting the socket to detachably connect the two containers intandem.

2. A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having asupport surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to thesupport surface, the unit comprising:

a. container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent theabutment surface,

b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and locatedbetween the container and the support surface, and

c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the supportsurface in front of the abutment surface between t'heabutment surfaceand the connection of the resilient means to the-container, theresilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding thecontainer against the abutment surface.

3. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 1, in which:

d. the container includes a pocket,

e. the resilient means is a coiled band spring having a coil portion andan outer end, the spring coil portion being received in the pocket toprovide the detachable connection with the container, the coil portionof the band spring being uncoiled while retained in the pocket to exertthe pull on the container, and

f. the anchorage means is on the outer spring end.

4. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which:

g. the coil portion of the band spring is disposed in'a substantiallyupright position from the support surface for alignment with andreception in the pocket, and the outer end of the band spring liessubstantially flat on the support surface.

5. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which:

g. the container pocket is defined by peripheral walls between which thespring coil portion is located and held, and

h. the container includes a portion adjacent the pocket against whichthe spring coil portion bears under spring loading, and which uncoilsthe coil portion.

6. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which:

g. the anchorage means for the coiled band spring is attached to thesupport surface underneath the container.

7. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. thecontainer includes a rear side that is urged against the abutmentsurface, the rear side being open for introducing an object into thecontainer when detached, and the open rear side overlapping and beingheld against the abutment surface when the container is attached to thepreclude removal of the object from the container through the open rearside.

8. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which:

g. the container includes a rear side that is urged against the abutmentsurface, and an opposed front side,

h. the container pocket is located in and opens from the container frontside, the pocket being defined by peripheral walls between which thespring c'oil portion is located and held,

i. the container includes a portion adjacent the pocket against whichthe spring coil portion bears under spring loading and which uncoils thecoil portion, and

j. the container front side includes projecting lips about the pocketopening for locating and scooping the spring coil portion into thepocket.

9. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 8, in which:

k. the coil portion of the band spring is disposed in a substantiallyupright position from the support surface for alignment withandreception in the pocket, and the outer end of the band spring liessubstantially flat on the support surface.

1. A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having asupport surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to thesupport surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat onthe support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient meansdetachably connected to the container and located between the containerand the support surface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilientmeans to the support surface in front of the abutment surface, theresilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding thecontainer against the abutment surface, and d. a second containerseating on the support surface adjacent the first said container, one ofthe containers being provided with a top-open socket, and the othercontainer being provided with a tongue interfitting the socket todetachably connect the two containers in tandem.
 1. A conveniencecontainer unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surfaceand an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, theunit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surfaceadjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connectedto the container and located between the container and the supportsurface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to thesupport surface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient meansexerting a pull on the container for holding the container against theabutment surface, and d. a second container seating on the supportsurface adjacent the first said container, one of the containers beingprovided with a top-open socket, and the other container being providedwith a tongue interfitting the socket to detachably connect the twocontainers in tandem.
 2. A convenience container unit for attachment inan automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposedangularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a containeradapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b.resilient means detachably connected to the container and locatedbetween the container and the support surface, and c. an anchorage meansconnects the resilient means to the support surface in front of theabutment surface between the abutment surface and the connection of theresilient means to the container, the resilient means exerting a pull onthe container for holding the container against the abutment surface. 3.A convenience container unit as defined in claim 1, in which: d. thecontainer includes a pocket, e. the resilient means is a coiled bandspring having a coil portion and an outer end, the spring coil portionbeing received in the pocket to provide the detachable connection withthe container, the coil portion of the band spring being uncoiled whileretained in the pocket to exert the pull on the container, and f. theanchorage means is on the outer spring end.
 4. A convenience containerunit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the coil portion of the bandspring is disposed in a substantially upright position from the supportsurface for alignment with and reception in the pocket, and the outerend of the band spring lies substantially flat on the support surface.5. A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. thecontainer pocket is defined by peripheral walls between which the springcoil portion is located and held, and h. the container includes aportion adjacent the pocket against which the spring coil portion bearsunder spring loading, and which uncoils the coil portion.
 6. Aconvenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. theanchorage means for the coiled band spring is attached to the supportsurface underneath the container.
 7. A convenience container unit asdefined in claim 3, in which: g. the container includes a rear side thatis urged against the abutment surface, the rear side being open forintroducing an object into the container when detached, and the openrear side overlapping and being held against the abutment surface whenthe container is attached to the preclude removal of the object from thecontainer through the open rear side.
 8. A convenience container unit asdefined in claim 3, in which: g. the container includes a rear side thatis urged against the abutment surface, and an opposed front side, h. thecontainer pocket is located in and opens from the container front side,the pocket being defined by peripheral walls between which the springcoil portion is locatEd and held, i. the container includes a portionadjacent the pocket against which the spring coil portion bears underspring loading and which uncoils the coil portion, and j. the containerfront side includes projecting lips about the pocket opening forlocating and scooping the spring coil portion into the pocket.